EMA accepts Merck and ARIAD's MAA for ridaforolimus to treat metastatic bone sarcomas

August 18, 2011 Merck (NYSE:MRK), known outside the United States and Canada as MSD, and ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:ARIA), today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has completed its administrative validation process for the regulatory application for ridaforolimus, an investigational oral mTOR inhibitor developed for the treatment of metastatic soft-tissue or bone sarcomas in patients who had a favorable response to chemotherapy. The completion of the marketing authorization application (MAA) validation process and acceptance for review now leads to the formal scientific review process by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. In addition to the EMA filing, Merck recently submitted a new drug application (NDA) for ridaforolimus to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Within the next 60 days, the FDA will determine whether it will accept Merck's application as submitted. As part of an exclusive license agreement with ARIAD, Merck is responsible for the development and worldwide commercialization of ridaforolimus in oncology. ARIAD intends to co-promote ridaforolimus in the United States. "This acceptance of the EMA filing for review is an important milestone as we seek to bring forward a potential treatment option for patients with metastatic bone and soft tissue sarcomas," said Marty Duvall, senior vice president and general manager, oncology franchise, Merck Global Human Health. "We are pleased with both the acceptance of the MAA in Europe and the timely filing of the NDA for ridaforolimus in the United States," said Harvey J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of ARIAD. "These regulatory initiatives underscore the importance of ridaforolimus for both ARIAD and the Merck oncology franchise, and we look forward to successful completion of the review process with both regulatory agencies." Source: Merck